The Master of Library Science Degree

MLS Program Curriculum (PDF) (Approved 8/11)

Course Descriptions (PDF) (Approved 5/12)

Instructions for Applying to the MLS Program

The Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management (SLIM) program brings the campus to where its students live, offering programs in Emporia and Overland Park, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City and Orem, Utah; and Portland, Oregon.

Accreditation

The SLIM M.L.S. program is fully accredited by the American Library Association; the School Library Media Licensure program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The individual systems for higher education in Colorado, Utah, and Oregon have invited SLIM to operate within their boundaries and have approved the M.L.S. program offered within their states.

Program delivery designed for non-traditional students

Many students are drawn to SLIM because it offers a unique opportunity for non-traditional students.  To meet the needs of its students, SLIM offers most of its M.L.S. courses in a non-traditional format.  All courses are facilitated online for the full semester, with the majority of courses meeting for two face-to-face weekend intensive sessions during the semester.  The typical student is in class four to six weekends per semester. Some courses are entirely online, but the M.L.S. program cannot be completed in a totally online format.

Of course, students may also work through the program on a full-time basis. Four semesters—about sixteen months—is the minimum amount of time allowed to complete the M.L.S. degree.

Cohorts provide support

Students go through the M.L.S. degree program as a cohort. This model provides a support system and a ready-made professional network upon graduation. Students take all of the required courses together and get to know each through projects that require teamwork and collaboration.

A solid theoretical base + current practice skills = Dynamic curriculum

The goal of the SLIM M.L.S. program is to prepare creative problem solvers who will provide proactive client-centered services in information agencies. To meet this goal, the curriculum is designed to provide the following dynamic mix of courses:

• Core theory courses provide the foundation from which students learn the skill sets necessary for the library and information management profession.
• Tools courses provide instruction on how to catalog and classify information, retrieve and repackage information, diagnose information needs, plan and evaluate information services, and use print and electronic information sources.
• Applications courses amplify and extend the themes identified in the theory courses and focus on information transfer, global information infrastructure, management, and technology.
• Elective courses are devoted to current issues in the profession and a capstone experience provides an opportunity to synthesize the educational experience in preparation for entering the field.

SLIM faculty travel to the various campus sites to teach all of the required theory courses in the curriculum and at least half of all the courses offered at each site. SLIM hires qualified practitioners in each regional location to teach certain elective courses that match their areas of expertise. In this way, SLIM students receive a quality education experience grounded in theory and in touch with the latest and best practices in the field.

Since many of their classes involve working with practitioners in the field, SLIM students benefit from outstanding opportunities for professional networking. More than 3,300 alumni across the country and around the world make a great job search network.

Questions?

Please contact Candy Boardman at 1-800-552-4770 or cboardma@emporia.edu for general information about the SLIM MLS program or for information specific to the SLIM MLS program at the Emporia State University campus in Emporia.  For information about the MLS program at ESU - Kansas City in Overland Park (KS), please contact Katie Hill at 620-803-8720 or khill1@emporia.edu.

For information about the SLIM MLS program instructional sites located outside of Kansas, please contact the following MLS program directors:

In Oregon, Perri Parise at 503-223-8280 or pparise@emporia.edu
In Utah, Adriane H. Juarez at 801-661-0457 or ajuarez@emporia.edu
In Colorado, Katie Hill at 620-803-8720 or khill1@emporia.edu